Wavelink Blog

Mobile Device Management is the new “hot” thing in the enterprise, especially with all the talk of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies. We’ve recently posted on BYOD, as have many others. But, I think it’s important to remember that there are other important considerations to think about. Primarily, the cost consideration before you decide on a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.

Research shows that cost is a major concern for those implementing MDM, which makes sense, because any solution has to be worth it! At the core, MDM is focused on reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) of mobile assets. A huge factor in these “costs of ownership” is security. Since MDM solutions entered the space, securing information that travels to and from the device, and information that is on the device, has been crucial. If information is ever compromised, companies can lose thousands to millions of dollars. With the BYOD phenomena, the need to control this “cost” has been thrown in the limelight.

Prospects for MDM also now have new delivery options available, which can factor into the cost of a solution. We’ve written and presented extensively on how your cost considerations should match the delivery method that best suites your budget. For some, that’s a SaaS model (low monthly subscription), for others it an on-site install (more investment required up front). Either way, it’s important to know that the installation method you chose will impact costs.

If you’d like to discuss other cost considerations, feel free to email me or discuss in the comments below. Additionally, if you’re interested in TCO and the return on investment for MDM solutions, I’m happy to provide you with our Avalanche ROI Calculator. Just put your info in the “Ask the Advisor” fields to the left with “ROI Calculator” in the comment box, and I’ll follow-up with you.